4th Jun 2024 • Written by Cory Woodthorpe

Adam Wharton is ready for England - and he should start over Kobbie Mainoo.

With England's final 26-man squad due this Friday, Gareth Southgate has many decisions to make - but one stands out amongst the rest:

"Who will be the third player in the England midfield"?

The midfield is the heartbeat of any team. England have historically struggled to find a successful combination of players despite an abundance of talent, with Scholes, Gerrard, and Lampard never reaching the same level together internationally as they did for their respective clubs.

That "golden age" midfield has always been criticised for lacking the right balance - and that's where the debate between Crystal Palace's Adam Wharton, and Manchester United's Kobbie Mainoo, begins.

How would one fit into Southgate's side?

Declan Rice and Jude Bellingham are effectively guaranteed a starting spot, meaning it's a toss-up between Mainoo and Wharton for the third role.

Whichever player is chosen to complete Southgate’s midfield will have the task of playing as the more defensive-minded of the three, allowing Rice and Bellingham the freedom to express themselves.

In terms of their most basic attributes, Mainoo and Wharton are similar players. Both excel on the ball, and are comfortable playing with both feet, whilst still possessing a robust tenacity out of possession.

Credit: Mark Leech/Offside/Getty Images

However, given the demands of the role, Wharton may emerge as the England manager’s preferred choice. He embodies the more ‘traditional’ defensive midfield role, being a natural holding player rather than a box-to-box midfielder (like Mainoo), thus providing the balance that has been so sought after for England.

How have they performed this season?

In his club role at Palace, Wharton is tasked with winning the ball back and progressing the play to the plethora of attacking talents in front of him. His forward passing is consistently accurate, and he is responsible for initiating a large proportion of Palace’s attacks. The significant attacking talent at England’s disposal will no doubt suit this element of his game, of which glimpses were seen during his England debut on Monday night.

However, he has two disadvantages when compared to Mainoo - Wharton has only played 16 Premier League games to Mainoo's 25, and has no serious experience in an elite knockout competition.

Mainoo’s most recent game for Manchester United was the FA Cup final, where the 18-year-old dropped a Player of The Match performance, scoring the crucial second goal as United beat their City rivals to win 2-1. 

Credit: Robbie Jay Barratt/AMA/Getty Images

The young Englishman burst onto the scene this season, picking up his first England cap in the process. The call-up to Southgate’s squad is fully deserved, and it wouldn’t be surprising to see Mainoo play a key role in Germany this summer.

Mainoo has often been tasked with playing as the more defensive midfielder in Ten Hag’s system, allowing players like Bruno Fernandes creative freedom in more advanced areas. He is tenacious and willing to do the ‘dirty work’ required in this role. On many occasions this season, Mainoo has made crucial defensive actions for United, helping them keep the ball away from André Onana’s net.

His attributes and versatility could bless him with the assets to slot into Southgate's midfield - but Wharton is the more natural fit.

Another option?

Another player potentially vying for a midfield start is Trent Alexander-Arnold. The Liverpool right-back is listed as a midfielder in the England squad, a role that he has played on numerous occasions for the Three Lions. A midfield three of Alexander-Arnold, Rice and Bellingham, whilst incredible on paper, lacks that real defensive solidity - meaning that one of Mainoo or Wharton could be more likely to start.

It would also force Alexander-Arnold out of position, who was moved from midfield to his natural right-back spot midway through England's friendly against Bosnia - a change that resulted in him winning man of the match.

Credit: Michael Regan/The FA/Getty Images

The Liverpool man’s inclusion as a midfielder would task Declan Rice with the defensive role - whilst the Arsenal man is more than capable of playing here, it stunts his creativity. It wouldn’t be a surprise to see England lineup with a midfield three of Rice, Bellingham and Trent though; all three are world-class players, and Southgate will look to their experience on the biggest stage to guide England through what is a make-or-break tournament for the nation's new ‘golden generation’. 

For England to have the best chance of success in Germany this summer, Wharton should be in the starting XI to allow for the best balance of defence and creativity in the middle of the pitch.

What will Southgate do?

Many consider England's previous two World Cups and the last Euros to have been disappointing runs. Most believe the squad has the quality to win but is let down by Southgate’s tactical decisions.

Fans have been highly critical of the England manager’s ‘boring’ brand of football, and Southgate will be feeling the pressure to finally bring football home - otherwise his job could be at stake. This pressure, coupled with the fact that this will be a few of the England squad’s last tournament, may lead Southgate to go with an ‘experience first’ approach, which would harm both Wharton and Mainoo’s chances of getting a starting role in the team.

This tournament may have come too early for both players to stake a claim for the midfield spot - However, if one does get the start, it will most likely be Adam Wharton - his line-breaking passing ability, mixed with his defensive capabilities make him the perfect player to complete Gareth Southgate’s England XI.

Thumbnail Image: Michael Regan/Getty Images

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